GSP was outstanding at takedowns. Merab is on a whole other level...

[Hog-train]

GSP's takedowns were explosive, dynamic and unique. Merab's takedowns are just really good cardio and constant standard takedown attempts.

GSP also has far more power and finishing ability. Both on the feet and ground and pound.

 

[KO Shotz]

Merab does take ppl down at will, but it is asinine to compare Merab to GSP. Merab has great wrestling, athleticism, & cardio for days but isn't anywhere near being as well rounded as GSP was. GSP was also a threat on the feet, Merab not so much.

 

[Pilo]

More takedowns in less fights means your opponent gets up more.

You know what? That’s actually true LOL

 

[Poatan Power]

More takedowns in less fights means your opponent gets up more.

Also means the fighter getting taken down and standing back up is getting more tired. And the fight will be more exciting than just "control time" with more opportunities for striking, scrambles and subs.

We can't bitch about Merab letting people back up but also bitch about Belal holding people down.

 

[joy2day]

GSP also took down a lot of good wrestlers.

 

[Poatan Power]

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Some of these stats should be embarrassing to the owner. It's like the most strikes landed / most time spent in octagon .

You can't finish a fight.

What kind of shit take is this?
That's entirely dependent on variables such as who you fight, or variables you have minimal control over like what weight class you fight. Not to mention the closer you get to the top, the better everyone's defenses are. There's a reasons why fan favorites don't often get to the top of the pack, because they're more exciting and take more risks that garner them more losses.

Beating the shit out of someone is beating the shit out of someone. I'd honestly rather get knocked out than spend 25 mins getting my ass beat like Jorge got from Colby, getting held up by my corner like I had just ran 26 miles against my will.

 

[milliniar]

Also means the fighter getting taken down and standing back up is getting more tired. And the fight will be more exciting than just "control time" with more opportunities for striking, scrambles and subs.

We can't bitch about Merab letting people back up but also bitch about Belal holding people down.

GSP fights has nearly 50% time standing. He has a little over 5 hours of fight time and about 2 hours and 23 minutes of ground control time. I can't find the stat but I don't think he has much time on the ground not in control.

 

[KillerIsBack V2]

Jesus, the man is a, uh, a MACHINE!

97 now

 

[Subline]

 

[Fahcough]

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What kind of shit take is this?
That's entirely dependent on variables such as who you fight, or variables you have minimal control over like what weight class you fight. Not to mention the closer you get to the top, the better everyone's defenses are. There's a reasons why fan favorites don't often get to the top of the pack, because they're more exciting and take more risks that garner them more losses.

Beating the shit out of someone is beating the shit out of someone. I'd honestly rather get knocked out than spend 25 mins getting my ass beat like Jorge got from Colby, getting held up by my corner like I had just ran 26 miles against my will.

That's a lot of defending people who can't finish a job.

No one likes that guy in real life work either. Lots of other people can finish the same job, but the same ones can't. Bunch of stalling and making it look like you're busy.

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

That's not really true. I watched all his fights in TKO and UCC before he got into the UFC (they were on TSN up here) and he always took guys down and ground and pounded them. Even his TKO finishes were mostly from ground and pound (or submission).

I'm not sure where that striking narrative came from, just his Karate background, I guess.

Gsp always mixed it since his debut. The only real difference was he never changed focus and strategy before the Serra 1 fight. After which he game planned heavily specific to each opponent.

 

[Alpha_T83]

Merab has that Khabib effect, like when Dustin Poirier famously complained "I can't keep him off of me".

He just keeps coming and pressuring, giving you no time and space.

 

[VAfan]

Comparing Merub to GSP is like comparing a small,hyper, humping dog to a racehorse.

yeah OP is engaging in some serious hyperbole. either that or he never watched GSP in his prime.

 

[forsh]

Also, GSP was taking down decently bigger guys too which arguably ups the difficulty level. What GSP was able to achieve with his MMA wrestling without any collegiate background is still incredible.

But wasn't Merab a garbage man or a truck driver or something? He wasn't an athlete at all, but GSP was. That makes Merab's takedowns way more impressive.

 

[Joshua8531]

Jesus, the man is a, uh, a MACHINE!

Meaningless stat.

 

[Paladin]

Also, GSP was taking down decently bigger guys too which arguably ups the difficulty level. What GSP was able to achieve with his MMA wrestling without any collegiate background is still incredible.

GSP was taking down larger opponents.. yes.. but GSP was / is also Larger than Merab .. same size roughly as the people he was taking down.

 

[Dr Fong]

This stat reminds me of how pro wrestling promotes people as 'the 17 time World champion' as if losing it that many times is better than being a 1x champion.

 

[Poatan Power]

That's a lot of defending people who can't finish a job.

No one likes that guy in real life work either. Lots of other people can finish the same job, but the same ones can't. Bunch of stalling and making it look like you're busy.

Yeah, fighting is just like installing a kitchen appliance or paving a driveway. Moron.

Welcome to the ignore list

 

[spinitch]

GSP had more striking threat that opened up TDs. Merab more relentless. Both great in different ways.

 

[SG123]

I got curious and googled the fight metric stats.

He's actually pretty consistent. He broke and finished a lot of those guys early.

When you compare his TD attempts in his pre-Serra decisions, you get:

Karo at 8 attempts in 3 rounds.
Miller 5 attempts in 3 rounds.

Then look at his highest over 5 rounds, post-Serra.

Diaz 11 attempts in 5 rounds.
Condit 8 attempts in 5 rounds
Hardy 11 attempts in 5 rounds.


The BJ Penn fights:

Pre-Serra: 5 attempts in 3 rounds
Post-Serra: 7 attempts in 4 rounds

Not a major difference between pre & post-Serra